As we all know, Mother Nature is often very unpredictable. Sure, we can assume we're going to get a few snowstorms during the winter and that some residents on the East Coast are going to be struck by the tail end of an Atlantic hurricane. But overall, there's no telling what she's going to throw at us each day.

The lives of many of our fellow Canadians in Alberta were changed in mid-June when flooding caused by massive torrential downpours devastated Calgary and nearby areas. A large number of people were forced to leave their homes, businesses and other essential parts of their lives to find shelter.

While this might not have been an immediate concern, as people try to get back in the swing of things, those who didn't back up the critical files on their computers might discover that they are lost forever. The thing is, this type of event could theoretically happen anywhere in the nation, so this is something all Canadians need to be aware of - you've got to back up your essential records the right way.

The Internet is likely the easiest way to do this. Since 8 in 10 Canadians are already online, as the Canadian Internet Registration Authority found in early 2013, this might be even more simple than first assumed. Cloud backups are cost-effective, scalable and relatively user-friendly. Residents and business owners alike might want to consider this before it's too late.

Using Calgary as the example
According to CBC News, the recent floods can provide a great example as to why Canadians need to shore up their files on the Internet and back up regularly. There are so many different cloud computing providers that it shouldn't be hard for consumers to find an option that works well for them from among options such as Mozy, Carbonite and numerous others.

Canadians should be aware that many of these services have data centers located in the United States, so their information might be governed by American laws in terms of access, storage and other functions, the news source detailed. People should read the fine print in their contracts before signing, especially if this is a concern.

CBC also noted that consumers might want to check their options with their Internet service providers (ISPs) first. Some individuals have a massive amount of data they want to back up, which could go far over their broadband allowance, which would then have adverse effects on the consumer and the ISP alike.

The cleanup begins
People across Canada should consider making sure all of their important files are backed up safely, especially in the wake of the floods. Luckily, cleanup is beginning in this area. The Vancouver Sun said that troops have been called in to help and the Calgary Stampede is likely going to take place this year despite the destruction.

When this cleanup occurs and people have backed up their files, they can simply boot up an Internet-enabled device and access their records as long as they have the proper authorization. They can then go about their business and continue to make Canada one of the most tech-savvy countries in the world.